Osteoporosis

Like most Australians, you probably don’t give much thought to your bones until something doesn’t feel right. Bones do more than you think, not only do they provide support and structure for your body, they also protect our vital organs and help us move, as well as storing essential minerals.

When you think about bone health, osteoporosis is probably front of mind. You may also think of broken bones and fractures that happen to children or older people with the disease. You may also think of height loss and stooped or hunched posture. 

We also may not have considered the impact of poor bone health on a person’s emotional and social wellbeing. Did you know that people who have already broken a bone due to osteoporosis are more likely to break bones in the future? For many, the second fracture can lead to depression. Several studies have shown a link between depression and bone loss.

Osteoporosis is not only an issue for the individual and their family, there is a costly burden on the health care system which is projected to increase significantly as the population ages.

The good news is, by building the right foundation for strong and healthy bones early in life, and then by looking after your bones, many problems can be minimised if not prevented.

So what is Osteoporosis?

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation ‘Osteoporosis which literally means porous bone, is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased. The loss of bone occurs silently and progressively. Often there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs.’

Our bones are living tissue, so continue to ‘remodel’ throughout our lifetime. If we do not have enough calcium in our diet it is removed from our bones, causing our bones to become weaker. Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease, and can be worsened by a lack of calcium and other minerals. Not only do you need enough Calcium in your diet for you bones, you also need Vitamin D to help your body to absorb the Calcium and Exercise is needed to keep our bones strong.

The good news is, by building the right foundation for strong and healthy bones early in life, and then by looking after your bones, many problems can be minimised if not prevented.